--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great writers have always been great…" description: "\"“The great writers have always been great readers, but that does not mean that they read all the books that, in their day, were listed as the indispens..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/anonymous-1_books_the-great-writers-have-always-been-great_2503980.jpg" --- # The great writers have always been great readers, but that… ![“The great writers have always been great readers, but that does not mean that they read all the books that, in their day, were listed as the indispensable ones. In many cases, they read fewer books than are now required in most of our colleges, but what they did read, they read well. Because they…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/anonymous-1_books_the-great-writers-have-always-been-great_2503980.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/anonymous-1_books_the-great-writers-have-always-been-great_2503980.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/anonymous-1_books_the-great-writers-have-always-been-great_2503980.jpg) > ““The great writers have always been great readers, but that does not mean that they read all the books that, in their day, were listed as the indispensable ones. In many cases, they read fewer books than are now required in most of our colleges, but what they did read, they read well. Because they had mastered these books, they became peers with their authors. They were entitled to become authorities in their own right. In the natural course of events, a good student frequently becomes a teacher, and so, too, a good reader becomes an author.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great writers read selectively, mastering key works to become peers with authors, enabling them to teach and write authoritatively. **In simple terms:** Good writers read well, not everything. Key Takeaway Read deeply, focus on mastering essential works. Themes reading mastery authority teaching authorship Mood reflective inspirational Type analytical motivational When to use this quote - college curriculum design - personal reading strategy - writing workshops - literary education - author development Key Concepts literary criticism peer influence knowledge depth Questions to Reflect On - How do you choose which books to master? - What benefits arise from reading deeply versus broadly? A Different Perspective May overlook diverse perspectives by focusing only on "indispensable" books. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Peers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-peers-1089059/) [Good Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-reader-250785/) [Great Readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-readers-1089060/) [Great writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-writers/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Writers Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-great-912541/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The great authors were great readers, and one way to understand them is to read the books they read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-great-authors-were-great-readers-and-one-way-to-understand-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't really think that writers, even great writers, are prophets, or sages, or Messiah-like figures; writing is a lonely, sedentary occupation and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/i-don-t-really-think-that-writers-even-great-writers-are-prophets-or/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [There are some great writers who are great talkers, but there are more great writers who are not great talkers. 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